Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (03 May 2019) 11 Raptors

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May 3, 2019, 5:54:17 PM5/3/19
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: May 03, 2019
SpeciesDay's CountMonth TotalSeason Total
Black Vulture000
Turkey Vulture511116
Osprey0227
Bald Eagle0018
Northern Harrier009
Sharp-shinned Hawk0459
Cooper's Hawk0296
Northern Goshawk003
Red-shouldered Hawk000
Broad-winged Hawk0012
Red-tailed Hawk46322
Rough-legged Hawk000
Swainson's Hawk009
Ferruginous Hawk0010
Golden Eagle1112
American Kestrel1359
Merlin001
Peregrine Falcon004
Prairie Falcon004
Mississippi Kite000
Unknown Accipiter0014
Unknown Buteo009
Unknown Falcon000
Unknown Eagle003
Unknown Raptor0012
Total:1129799


Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 13:00:00
Total observation time: 4.5 hours
Official CounterDebbie James
Observers:



Visitors:
Only two people came up to the station to just enjoy the view and then left. Activity on the trail was low, considering how beautiful it was today.

Weather:
Balmy warm day up on the Ridge, starting at 14 degrees C. and ending up at 18. A light haze persisted until the 3rd hour. The mine to the south was doing blasting today, rising up large clouds of dust.

Raptor Observations:
Locals: 3 Red-Tailed Hawks, and 6 Turkey Vultures. The Golden Eagle migrating in the second hour had been flying on the EAST side of Green Mountain--I caught it when it came out at the north end, circled up, and then booked it North. The Kestrel flew by the west side of the Ridge, very low, and the 3 Red-tailed Hawks in the 3rd hour were flying together--two immatures and one adult. The local 6 TV's formed a kettle over West Ridge, and then disbanded to search the area for food.

Non-raptor Observations:
I would like to echo Roger in commending the reporting this year, and to underscore how it helped me anticipate conditions and how migration was coming along up on the Ridge. Other birds seen or heard today: 1 Mountain Bluebird; 1 American Crow; 1 Broad-tailed Hummingbird; 1 Spotted Towhee; 1 Rock Wren (who was busy in the boulders on the West side, below the station); 2 Swallow sp.; 2 Common Raven; 2 Bushtit; 1 Woodhouse's Scrub Jay; 5 White-throated Swifts; and one very lovely Yellow-Rumped Warbler, warbling.

Predictions:
Four more days to 2019 Hawk Watch!


Report submitted by Matthew Smith (matt....@birdconservancy.org)
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]




Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from Bird Conservancy of the
Rockies from about 9 AM to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.

Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left
into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south
side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track
and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the
trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to
the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
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